How to target students

[Lee Seymour]

Hi helpful folk of UKBF

I own a removals company in Leeds and would like to start a marketing campaign to target students. Could anybody reccomend some useful way in which to do so?

Thank you in advance. Kind Regards Lee

 

[Brummum]

Hey,

A great way to target students is through social media. I would recommend setting up a Facebook, Twitter and Instagram page.

Instagram is literally were your target audience live with 400 million daily users and most of them aged between 18-29 this is where you should start.

Post a wide range of visually stunning and interesting content through out your social media channels and you will soon start to attract attention.

As well as that you could host an event at local university and collages, run a competition or put on a publicity stunt. which ever you choose to do make sure there are lots of social media share, like, tag etc cues.

I hope this helps.

 

[Mr D]

Schools and colleges a few months in advance.

 

[ethical PR]

I wouldn't suggest your own social media as the best place to start. You have two target universities in Leeds so are much better using channels already used by students, rather than expecting them to come to you.

Develop an advertising campaign with promotions and discounts and direct them to your well optimised website with content developed exclusively for this market

Contact the student union at the universities you want to target about advertising on their student website/radio/magazine.

Contact the university about advertising at their fresher fairs and other university channels.

 

[extulsftjz]

I've not heard of any students using a removals company. I might be wrong but it's normally done by parents / friends / them. You probably know different.

I remember using a supermarket trolley once.

You could run a Facebook advertising campaign. Target Leeds and people between 18-21 (there might be target options for students but not sure off the top of my head).

 

[Mr D]

Have twice known students to use a removal company, both times where student renting a property to share with others. And had a lot of stuff.

 

[NewGardenStyle]

As above, it would be a waste of time just setting up social media accounts and expecting customers to visit them. You'll have to advertise. Could try calling the Uni's accommodation office for a chat?

I've got a house I let to students and in 10 + years have never seen them use a removal company. Student houses are nearly always fully furnished so they just bring their personal effects, which will normally fit inside a car. That's my experience anyway - can't say it's the same for everyone.

Edit: just seen the above post. Some students do use removal companies I'm sure

 

[ethical PR]

Actually a really good point OP. Have you actually checked the size of the student market in your area?

With our youngsters they either used our cars or we hired a small van at the end of the third/four year by which time they had accumulated a fair amount of stuff.

Surely a campaign aimed at estate and letting agent would be more fruitful?

 

[Mr D]

Or perhaps storage solutions for students. Being able to store their possessions while they go travelling / working across the globe for the summer.

 

[ethical PR]

Students don't normally need to store stuff though. They bring it home or bring it to their new place as student rentals normally start from the summer.

 

[Premier Carpet Cleaning]

I would suggest creating some online content like a page on your website, or another website which targets keywords with the local universities name. My younger sister is a hair dresser and got numerous clients from the local university doing this.

 

[columbo]

I've not heard of any students using a removals company. I might be wrong but it's normally done by parents / friends / them. You probably know different.

I remember using a supermarket trolley once.

Have to agree. Some students can have a lot more free time than a person doing a 9-5 job hence they are great at improvising solutions like loans of cars and supermarket trolleys! Yes, there are probably plentiful amounts of students in Leeds but would they actually call up a removals company?

 

[Gecko001]

Many people regard removal companies as firms who just do whole house contents when someone has to mover house and do not realise that they also will do part loads of only a few bits and piece. If you do part loads, then perhaps if you highlighted that aspect of your business in your marketing, you might get more students.

 

[Kate73]

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[Colin Forrest]

Students are likely to look for the free option first, second and third. If you want to target students, you are going to first off going to need a very good deal for them. That being said, you have four universities in Leeds and doubtless countless students each summer moving out of halls and in to private accommodation. I would contact each universities student union and give them a good reason to promote you - SU's are always looking for great ways to make student lives easier and if you can offer a great, low cost service, they might do most of the advertising for you (students are also more likely to trust the SU than companies advertising separately).
Remember though, that most students will only be needing a removals company once a year at most, and most will occur in the later summer months - you might have months of nothing and then too much to handle all at once.

 

[Sorodo]

Have you contacted the likes of Student Let agencies?

 

[HelenCope]

I would use Facebook and create a post with a picture and some kind of contact details and boost this. Facebook is great as it will allow you to target students in your local area and is the lowest cost per click advertising platform I have found.

 

[StevePoster]

I own a removals company in Leeds and would like to start a marketing campaign to target students. Could anybody recommend some useful way in which to do so?

What kind of nature does your removals company have?
What type of students particularly you want to target?
These are some of the factors that must be considered first before starting a marketing campaign.

 

[ADNattan]

1. Find the companies that let properties to students and have a chat. It may well be that students ask their landlords for recommendations. Only one way to find out.
2. Leaflet campaign at halls of residence (they definitely have to move at years' end) and around the universities.
3. Freshers' Fairs. Get a leaflet in the bags they hand out at the fairs, chances are that a few end up pinned to notice boards.

Social media is a red herring here. Would you follow a removals company? Unless they were posting jokey content like you see Arena Flowers post on Twitter, then I'd guess at no. Let's face it, you're not selling an impulse buy product here. You have a service that people either need or don't, and no amount of relationship building is going to make someone hire a removal company if they're not moving.

When I was a student, and this was 11 years ago in the MySpace era, I used social media to talk to my friends, find gigs to go to and see if anyone who went to lectures had notes. I can't see life changing so much that today's students are crying out for "Here's our removal van." "We did some removals today." "Do you need a removal?"

 

[columbo]

OP, are you sure students would make a good target to build a sustainable business?

 

[DanBan]

I think students are all about SNS all of types, so first FB and Twitter of course, Instagram and blogging are also quite important

 

[ADNattan]

FB and Twitter of course, Instagram

I've just taken a look at a family member's Instagram. He's 19.

From what I can see, he's interested in models, his friends, musicians, sportspeople and women who take their tops off.

I'm sure that he's just not found the right removals company to follow on Instagram yet though.

Will people stop pretending that social media is some sort of cure-all? Targeted Facebook ads? Brilliant, that'll help, especially if you keep it to the end of term when moving is front of their minds.

Having a bloody Instagram account isn't going to get you any attention unless your removals van has two topless supermodels, Stormzy and Harry Kane sitting in the back.

 

[ethical PR]

OP, are you sure students would make a good target to build a sustainable business?

That question has already been asked. The OP hasn't been back since he posted.

 

[Martyn_sa]

You could try ads in local student publications / websites, such as The Tab (Leeds edition) and The Gryphon. There's also other youth-focused stuff such as Unilad, Ladbible, Pretty 52 etc, but those ads would be less targeted than the local ones.

Leaving leaflets in the various Leeds SU buildings could also work.

 

[karenvjames]

Hi Lee

You could consider a leaflet drop around the roads where you would find student accommodation. Do your research and find out which areas tend to be closest to the universities and likely to have student accommodation. You can start by researching on line or with the royal mail which roads or postcodes are the most likely to have student accommodation.You can pay someone else to do this for you prices are between £35 and £65 per 1000 leaflets.Obviously, you will need to get the leaflets designed and printed as well but some leaflet distribution companies will know who can do this for you or offer it as part of their services.

As mentioned by someone else I would also target student unions and ask about advertising in their bar or do a free presentation.

 

[Nord20]

For what it's worth, I think you're barking up the wrong tree. Not many students have enough stuff to move to need a removal firm and a lot of those that do will just hire a van for the day (that's what I did).

Also, you really will find that all the students who do want your services will want it in literally the same week - the week before term starts and the week after it ends. You will get zero work during term time and probably zero during the holidays.

Students are time rich and money poor, not a great market to attack.

 

[SnapchatJosh]

Hi helpful folk of UKBF

I own a removals company in Leeds and would like to start a marketing campaign to target students. Could anybody reccomend some useful way in which to do so?

Thank you in advance. Kind Regards Lee

Hey Lee,

Marketing to students can be a really fun and exciting proposition. So in order to create a successful marketing campaign I would suggest coming up with one that is creative and engaging.

I would recommend Snapchat as a form of marketing to students. There are a lot of snapchat influencers you can use to help market your brand. I would recommend using Fanbytes as it has a world class software that can help your brand market to a young audience.

Josh

 

[netdesignr]

Offer them a substantial discount it's one of the main things to do and of course active on different campus events.

 

[Mike_Cartwright]

You can better reach the younger audiences through social media. Most of them have their mobile phones with them 24/7. You can create your accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Just make sure to use engaging content, add photos, videos, and sounds to get their attention. Might as well take advantage of hashtags. You can also host events at their schools or leave flyers at dorms.

 

[RickiRick]

Having a bloody Instagram account isn't going to get you any attention unless your removals van has two topless supermodels, Stormzy and Harry Kane sitting in the back.

I agree. But partly. If this Instagram account really cool, students will support and follow it. For making it cool, you should create the interesting and bright сontent. For example, make lots of videos, where will be shown, how students can relax and have no worries, while your company removes their stuff. Also, hashtags work well. Invent some interesting and catchy ones. You can choose randomly via hashtags, who will get free service of your company.

 

[George Owen]

Turn up to their halls with an incentivised flyer campaign?

 

[ethical PR]

Turn up to their halls with an incentivised flyer campaign?

How would you suggest they get in as commercial outfits touting their services aren't allowed in.

 

[Cha_james]

I was a student myself recently, there's probably a few good ways to get in contact. I would say now is the best time to be marketing obviously as many students are leaving, but one popular thing that used to happen at my halls all the time is people would wait outside until someone just let them in, then post flyers under the doors of the flats. It probably sounds a bit sketchy but we used to get it a few times a week without fail, usually club leaflets.

You can contact accommodation providers as well, where I was, there was an advertising notice boards on every level on the stairwell where people can put adverts, so maybe ask to pin something up there?

Personally I doubt the student unions will give you much time, so I would say target the accommodation providers, most accommodation is run by private companies, even the official uni ones so I would contact them. Maybe say hey if you let me pin flyers your students can have 10% off etc.

 

[KindaichiShota]

If you like to target online then you can first try with social media as most of the students have many accounts for better communication. You can create any page and can invite your targeted audience and can inform all of them by a single post. There are few forum related with study only, there you can find few serious students as well. Besides locally you can also get more students by field marketing.

 

[Prime81]

It might be worth talking to the housing officer, or whatever they are called now, at each uni as they will probably know who's moving out of dorms into shared houses. Maybe you can give a donation/commssion to the uni for every move. They are always looking for ways to make more money.

 

[WithinSocial]

I agree why target students only if you are already doing it with other audience and looking to dominate within students market I can't think of anything as faster as Google and social media with keywords related to students no student and I repeat not a single one is without facebook instagram or some sort of social networking account least they Google when they prepare the assignments good luck